Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a SUSI grant application submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be re-examined on the grounds of the exceptional circumstances involved in the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5604/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of reckonable income.

Under Section 21(2) of the Student Support Act 2011 an applicant has 30 days, from the date of the Appeals Officer's decision in the awarding authority, to submit their appeal to the Board. Under Section 21(3) of the Act the Board may extend this period by a further 30 days if it is satisfied that the applicant has given reasonable cause to do so.

The student to which the Deputy refers, appealed the decision of the Appeals Officer of the awarding authority to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board (SGAB). However, the appeal was outside the timeframe and the Board does not have any discretion to extend the time period beyond that allowed for in the Act. Therefore the appeal was not admitted.

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www. revenue.ie.